JP3308360B2 - Color video printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color video printer for combining and printing a gradation image and a title image. More specifically, the present invention relates to a color video printer which expresses a plurality of title images in different colors or uses one type of image. The present invention relates to a video printer in which a title image has a gradation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a color video printer, for example, a thermal color printer, a title image such as a title and a shooting date is synthesized with a gradation image, and the synthesized image is thermally recorded. At the time of image composition, gradation image data input from an electronic still camera, a video camera, or the like is written to a gradation image memory. On the other hand, 1-bit title image data input from a video camera or a titler is written to a 1-bit title image memory. When printing or monitoring, two memories are read simultaneously,
When title image data is present in the same pixel, this title image data is prioritized, converted into color data designated in advance, and sent to a monitor system or a print system.

[0003]

As described above, in a conventional color video printer, color data is sent out according to the presence or absence of 1-bit title image data, so that the title image is limited to one type or a single color. There is also a problem that gradation cannot be expressed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a color video printer capable of synthesizing a title image having a gradation or a plurality of title images.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for converting a luminance signal of a title image into a plurality of bits of data.
A / D conversion means for converting digital signals and digital signals
Take any number of bits from the upper bits of the signal.
Multiple 1-bit title memories
Using multiple bits of data read from the title memory
To the title image data with the specified color gradation
Conversion means for performing the conversion. Give the title image a gradation
Can be

[0006]

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit of a color video printer. An NTSC signal of a gradation image is sent from an image input unit 9 such as an electronic still camera or a video camera to a decoder 10, where it is separated into a luminance signal and a chrominance signal. The A / D converter 11 samples the luminance signal and the color signal for each pixel, and sends the digitized color data and luminance data to the YC-RGB conversion circuit 12. YC-
The RGB conversion circuit 12 converts the luminance data and the color data into red image data, green image data, and blue image data, and sends them to the frame memory 13.

The frame memory 13 includes an 8-bit red frame memory 13R, a green frame memory 13G,
It is composed of a blue frame memory 13B, and under the control of the system controller 16, writing and reading of image data of each color are performed. Frame memory 13
The R, 13G, and 13B send the read image data to the image combining unit 30.

When a title image is input, a video camera,
A titler, a scanner, or the like is used as the image input unit 9, from which, for example, two types of title images are input. First, the title image signal of the first title image is binarized by the comparator 14a, and the binarized signal is sent to the first title memory 15a. Similarly, the title image signal of the second title image is input from the image input unit 9, binarized by the comparator 14b, and the binary signal is sent to the second title memory 15b. The comparators 14a and 14b receive a reference voltage obtained by converting data from the system controller 16 into an analog signal by the D / A converter 14c.

The first title memory 15a is composed of a one-bit frame memory for storing one frame of title data. The binary signal sent from the comparator 14a is controlled by the system controller 16 for each pixel. As the first title data, and sends the written first title data to the image synthesizing unit 30 as TLBIT1. Second title memory 15b
Also has the same configuration.

The image synthesizing section 30 includes image data of each color, first and second title data, and the system controller 16.
Is input, and the image data and the first and
The combined image data obtained by combining the second title data for each color is output to the monitor system and the print system.

The monitor system includes a D / A converter 17, an encoder 18, and a color monitor 19. First, the D / A converter 17 converts three-color image data into analog RGB signals. The RGB signals are converted into NTSC signals by the encoder 18 and then converted to the color monitor 1.
9 The image is sent to a home television, for example, and the combined image is displayed on the display surface.

The printing system includes an image processing circuit 20, a head driver 21, and a thermal head 22. The image processing circuit 20 performs a masking process using the image data of three colors or converts the image data into image data of yellow, cyan, and magenta. Of the three color image data, only the color to be printed, for example, only yellow image data, is extracted and sent to the head driver 21. The thermal head 22 has a large number of heating elements formed in a line,
The head driver 22 selectively drives each heating element according to the image data, thereby thermally recording a yellow image line by line on the thermosensitive recording paper 23. An image is recorded on the heat-sensitive recording paper 23 in the order of three color planes by using light fixing together.

A keyboard 24 is connected to the system controller 16, and by operating this keyboard 24, it is possible to instruct title synthesis, color designation of each title image, and print instruction.

Next, the image synthesizing section 30 will be described.
The image synthesizing unit 30 includes a red image synthesizing circuit 30R, a green image synthesizing circuit 30G, and a blue image synthesizing circuit 30B having the same circuit configuration. Red image data from the frame memory 13R is input to the red image combining circuit 30R. Similarly, the green image combining circuit 30
G is green image data from the frame memory 13G, and blue image synthesis circuit 30B is the frame memory 1G.
Blue image data from 3B is input. The title data TLBIT1 and TLBI from the first title memory 15a and the second title memory 15b, respectively.
T2 is also input to the red image combining circuit 30R, the green image combining circuit 30G, and the blue image combining circuit 30B.

In addition to the image data, the image synthesizing unit 30 receives color designation data TLCOLOR1 and TLCOLOR of the first and second title images from the system controller 16.
2, and synthesis instruction data TLON for instructing whether to synthesize the gradation image and the title image. Color designation data TLCOLOR1 for designating the color of the first title image
Are TLR1 for red and TLG for green
1, TLB 1 for designating blue, and these are selectively transmitted from the system controller 16 to the corresponding image synthesizing circuit 3.
0R, 30G, and 30B. Similarly, TLCOL
OR2 also includes TLR2, TLG2, and TLB2.

In FIG. 2 showing the red image synthesizing circuit 30R, AND circuits 31a to 31d, OR circuits 32 and 33 are shown.
a to 33h, an inverter 34, a NOR circuit 36 of a gradation image data suppressing unit, and AND circuits 37a to 37h.

The AND circuit 31a has the first title data TLBIT1 from the first title memory 15a and the color designation data TLCOLOR1 (TLCOL1) of the first title image.
R1) is input. The first title data (TLBIT1) via the inverter 34 is provided in the AND circuit 31b.
And the second title data (TLBIT2) are input. The output of the AND circuit 31b and the color designation data TLCOLOR (TLCOLOR) of the second title image are provided to the AND circuit 31c.
R2) is input.

The outputs of the AND circuits 31a and 31c are ORed.
The output of the OR circuit 32 and the synthesis command data TLON are input to the AND circuit 31d. The signal output from the AND circuit 31d connected in this way is input as a red title bit control signal (CTRLR) to each of eight OR circuits 33a to 33h provided corresponding to the 8-bit data. It is also sent to the green and blue image synthesizing circuits 30G and 30B.

The NOR circuit 36 receives a green title bit control signal (CTRLG) and a blue title bit control signal (CTRLB) sent from the green and blue image combining circuits 30G and 30B. The output of the NOR circuit 36 is input to AND circuits 37a to 37h. Also, bit data of one pixel from the frame memory for red 13R is input to the AND circuits 37a to 37h one bit at a time.

The outputs of the AND circuits 37a to 37h are ORed.
The signals are input to the circuits 33a to 33h. Each OR circuit 33a-
33h is D / A for each output as red composite image data.
Output to the converter 17 and the image processing circuit 20.

Therefore, the red image synthesizing circuit 30R
Is that the red title bit control signal is "1" for a pixel that includes red in the first or second title image and that converts the red title data from the OR circuits 33a to 33h to 8 bits. Is output. In addition, for a pixel that displays the first or second title image in one of green and blue, a title bit control signal other than red is input.
The red image data is converted into the D / A converter 17 by a to 37h.
Output is prohibited.

The green image synthesizing circuit 30G has T
TLG1 and TLG2 are input as LCOLOR1 and LCOLOR2, respectively, and a red title bit control signal (CTRLR) of the red image synthesizing circuit 30R and the blue image synthesizing circuit 30
B, the blue title bit control signal (CTRLB) is input, and the green title bit control signal (CTRL) is input.
G) is output. Similarly, TLB1 and TLB2 are input to the blue image synthesizing circuit 30B as TLCOR1 and TLCOR2, respectively, and a red title bit control signal (CTRLR) of the red image synthesizing circuit 30R and a green image synthesizing circuit 30G.
, And a blue title bit control signal (CTRLB).
Is output. The green image combining circuit 30G and the blue image combining circuit 30B convert the green combined image data and the blue combined image data into the D / A converter 17 and the image processing circuit 20.
Output to

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. First, a gradation image is input from the image input unit 9, and the image data of each color is transmitted to the frame memories 13 R, 13 G. through the A / D converter 11 and the YC-RGB converter 12. Write to 13B. Next, the first title image is input from the image input unit 9, converted into a binary signal by the comparator 14a, and written into the first title memory 15a for each pixel. Further, the second title image is input from the image input unit 9, converted into a binary signal by the comparator 14b, and written into the second title memory 15b for each pixel.

The colors of the first and second title images are designated from the keyboard 24. In this case, the colors may be the same or different. For example, when the first title image is red and the second title image is green, the system controller 16 outputs color designation data in which TLR1 and TLG2 are “H” and the others are “L”. Is sent to the image synthesizing unit 30. Next, when the user operates the keyboard 24 to instruct image synthesis, the image synthesis instruction data TLON of “H” is sent to the image synthesis unit 30.

The system controller 16 sets the frame memory 13 to the reading mode, reads out the image data of each color from the frame memory 13 for each pixel at the same time, and sends it to the image synthesizing section 30. The first and second title memories 15a and 15b read the respective title data and send them to the image synthesizing unit 30 as TLBIT1 and TLBIT2. The image synthesizing unit 30 receives TLBIT1 for a pixel having the first title data,
From the image synthesizing circuit to which the TLCOLOR1 of "H" is input, the title data in which each bit is converted into 8 bits of "1" is output to the D / A converter 17, and the other color image synthesizing circuit is output. Outputs a title bit control signal. The image synthesizing circuit to which "L" TLCOLOR1 is input does not output the image data from the frame memory due to the title bit control signal from another image synthesizing circuit. As a result, the image combining unit 30 outputs the first
Only 8-bit title data corresponding to the color specified in the title image is output.

Similarly, in the pixel in which the second title data exists, the pixel of the color designated for the second title image
The data is converted into bit data and sent to the D / A converter 17.

For a pixel without both the first and second title data, neither TLBIT 1 or 2 is input, so that all three color image data from the frame memory 13 is output to the D / A converter 17 as it is. . As described above, the image data, the first title data, and the second title data are synthesized for each pixel, and the synthesized image data is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 17. Next, the signal is converted into an NTSC signal by the encoder 18 and sent to the color monitor 19 to be displayed as a composite image. In the displayed composite image, the first title image and the second title image are each fitted with the designated color in the gradation image.

After checking the composite image displayed on the color monitor 19, the user operates the keyboard 24 to instruct printing. Also at the time of printing, data is repeatedly read from the frame memory 13 and the title memories 15a and 15b and sent to the image synthesizing unit 30. The data of the combined image combined by the image combining unit 30
It is taken in.

The image processing circuit 20 fetches one line of the sent data for each pixel into the buffer,
Color and gradation correction and color conversion to yellow, cyan, and magenta are performed using the image data of each color for one line. Only the yellow image data from the converted image data of each color is sent to the head driver 21. Based on the yellow image data, the head driver 21 drives the thermal head 22 to thermally record one line of the yellow image on the thermosensitive coloring layer of the thermosensitive recording paper 23. Similarly, the second and subsequent lines are recorded on the thermosensitive recording paper 23. After the thermal recording of the yellow image, ultraviolet light of a predetermined wavelength is irradiated by an ultraviolet lamp for yellow and light is fixed.

After thermal recording of the yellow image, heat-sensitive recording paper 2
When 3 comes to the position of the thermal head 22 again, the thermal recording of the magenta image is started. This thermal head 22
Prints a magenta image line by line on the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer of the thermosensitive recording paper 23 line by line. After the thermal recording of the magenta image, ultraviolet rays of a predetermined wavelength are irradiated by an ultraviolet lamp for magenta to fix the light.

Finally, after thermal recording and light fixing of the magenta image, the cyan image is thermally recorded line by line on the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer of the thermosensitive recording paper 23. No light fixing is performed on the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer. After recording the cyan image, the thermal recording paper 23 is discharged. The discharged thermal recording paper contains
The composite image displayed on the color monitor 19 is recorded.

FIG. 3 shows a state of image composition. The first title image 51 and the second title image 52 are fitted into the gradation image 50 to form a composite image 53. Since the title images 51 and 52 can be specified in color, they can be distinguished from each other by different colors. In the circuit shown in FIG. 2, the priority is given to the first title image, so that "O" and "U" do not become indistinguishable.

Next, an example in which a title image has a gradation will be described with reference to FIG. The image signal of the title image having the gradation is supplied to the image input unit 60 via the decoder 10.
Is input to the A / D converter 61. A / D converter 61
Sends the first upper bit of the 8-bit luminance data to the first title memory 15a, and sends the second upper bit to the second title memory 15b.

The frame memories 13R, 13G. The gradation image data for each color read from the image data 13B and the image data from the first title memory 15a and the second title memory 15b are combined with the red image synthesis circuit 70 of the image synthesis unit 70.
R, green image combining circuit 70G, blue image combining circuit 7
0B. In addition to the image data, the image synthesizing unit 70 receives the color designation data TLCOLOR of the first and second title images from the system controller 16.
And the combination command data TLON. The color designation data TLCOLOR includes a TLR that designates red, a TLG that designates green, and a TLB that designates blue. These are selectively input from the system controller 16 to the image synthesis circuit of the corresponding color.

As shown in FIG. 5, the red image synthesizing circuit 70R includes AND circuits 71a and 71b, and OR circuits 72a to 72a.
72h, an OR circuit 74, a NOR circuit 75, and AND circuits 76a to 76h. AND circuit 71
In TLBIT1, TLBIT1 and TLR and TLON of the color designation data TLCOLOR of the title image are input. A
The ND circuit 71b receives TLBIT2 and color designation data TLCOLOR and TLON of the title image.

The signal output from the AND circuit 71a is
It is input as a red title memory 1 control signal (CTRL1R) to an OR circuit 72a provided corresponding to the upper 1 bit of 8-bit data. The AND circuit 71
b are OR circuits 72b to 72h provided as red title memory 2 control signals (CTRL2R) corresponding to the lower 7 bits of 8-bit data.
Is input to

The OR circuit 74 has a red title memory 1 control signal (CTRL1R) and a red title memory 2
The control signal (CTRL2R) is input, and the output is a red title bit control signal (CTRLR).
The signal is input to the NOR circuit 75 and sent to the green image combining circuit 70G and the blue image combining circuit 70B. The NOR circuit 75 includes a green image combining circuit 70G,
A green title bit control signal (CTRLG) and a blue title bit control signal (CTRLB) sent from the blue image combining circuit 70B are also input. NOR
The output of the circuit 75 is input to AND circuits 76a to 76h. Also, bit data of one pixel from the frame memory 13 is input to the AND circuits 76a to 76h one bit at a time.

The outputs of the AND circuits 76a to 76h are ORed.
The signals are input to the circuits 72a to 72h. Each OR circuit 72a-
72h indicates that each output is D / A as red composite image data.
Output to the converter 17 and the image processing circuit 20. The green image combining circuit 70G and the blue image combining circuit 70B have the same configuration as the red image combining circuit 70R.

In the image synthesizing section 70, the image input section 60
The input title image is digitized into 8-bit title data corresponding to the gradation, and the upper two bits of the title image are stored in the first and second title memories 15a and 15b.
Are written according to the density of the title image. When the combining command data TLON is input, the image combining unit 70 sets (TLBIT1, TLBIT2) = (1,
In the case of 1), 8-bit title data in which each bit of the color specified by TLCOLOR is set to “1” is output.

Further, the image synthesizing unit 70 sets (TLBIT1,
If (TLBIT2) = (1, 0), TLCOLO
Only the upper first bit of the color specified by R is set to “1”,
It outputs 8-bit title data with the remaining 7 bits set to “0”. Further, the image synthesizing unit 70 (TLBIT
If (1, TLBIT2) = (0,1), TLCO
8-bit title data in which only the upper first bit of the color specified by the LOR is set to “0” and the remaining 7 bits are set to “1” is output. When outputting these title data, a title bit control signal of one of the three colors is always generated, and an AND circuit 76a is output via a NOR circuit 75.
Since the "L" signal is input to .about.76h, no image data is output for each color. And (TLBIT1,
Image data is output only when (TLBIT2) = (0,0).

As described above, the image synthesizing unit 70 converts the 2-bit title data into 8-bit data for each of the three gradations, synthesizes the converted title data and image data, and generates the synthesized image data. And send it out to the monitor system.
The color monitor 19 displays a composite image in which a three-gradation title image is embedded in the gradation image.

At the time of printing, the image synthesizing unit 7
0, the image is synthesized, the synthesized image is output to the printing system, and the synthesized image in which the three-gradation title image is embedded in the gradation image is printed.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a composite image obtained by fitting a title image having gradations into a gradation image and combining them. In this example, a title image is prepared in which three characters "congratulations" are shaded in three levels and superposed with their positions shifted, and the title image is taken into a video printer and synthesized with a gradation image. This shade is 3 in the color specified in the title image.
It is displayed or printed as a gradation of steps.

Although the above embodiment is directed to a thermal type color video printer, the present invention is also applicable to a color thermal transfer printer and a photosensitive type video printer which prints a composite image on a color photosensitive material by CRT. Can be. In the above embodiment, the title memory is provided separately from the frame memory, but it is also possible to share the upper bits or the lower bits of the 8 bits of the frame memory. In this case, when one title memory is shared with the frame memory, the image data is 7 bits. When two title memories are shared with the frame memory, the image data is 6 bits.
Further, two image synthesizing units for monitoring and printing may be provided.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention ,
Converts the title image into a plurality of bits data corresponding to shading takes any number of bits from the upper bits of a plurality of bits, a plurality of 1-bit title memory provided by the same number as this, these Since a plurality of 1-bit title image data is converted into data having a gradation of a color designated in the title image, gradation can be given to the title image during monitoring or printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a color video printer in which two title images are individually colored.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an image composition circuit of the color video printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of image composition.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a color video printer in which a title image has a gradation.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the image synthesis circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a state where a gradation image is combined with a title image having gradation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9,60 Image input unit 11,61 A / D converter 12 YC-RGB converter 13 Frame memory 14a, 14b Comparator 15a First title memory 15b Second title memory 17 D / A converter 30,70 Image synthesis unit

Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/76-5/956 H04N 9/79-9/898 H04N 1/38-1/409 H04N 1/46-1 / 64

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An A / D converter for converting a luminance signal of a title image into a digital signal of a plurality of bits in a color video printer for synthesizing a gradation image and a title image; A plurality of 1-bit title memories that respectively take in the plurality of bits, and a conversion unit that converts the plurality of bits into title image data having a designated color gradation using the plurality of bits of data read from these title memories. A color video printer, comprising: 2. A method according to claim 1 Symbol mounting color video printer and outputs the image obtained by combining the title image and the gray scale image.